Health-related quality of life in partners of persons with MS: a longitudinal 10-year perspective

Burden and resources in caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of people with Multiple Sclerosis are required to provide ongoing assistance especially during the advanced stages of the disease. They have to manage interventions and assume responsibilities which significantly impact both their personal quality of life and family's dynamics.

OBJECTIVE

A qualitative phenomenological study was carried out to understand the experience of burden in caregivers and their resources to manage it. The study also explores how healthcare services involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway respond to the needs of well-being of patients and family members.

METHODS

17 caregivers were involved in focus groups and in semi-structured individual interviews.

RESULTS

Fatigue is experienced by all respondents and it starts when physical disabilities increase or when people become aware of them. Many caregivers declare that they refer to intrinsic (love towards their relatives, patience and dedication) or extrinsic (family members, hobbies) resources to cope with the burden of assistance. Patient associations and the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway play a significant role in supporting caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Fatigue, loneliness, and isolation are experienced by caregivers and strongly affect their quality of life and health status. The study highlights caregivers' need to reconcile working times with care times, to give more space to self-care and to have moments to share their experiences with someone else. These needs should be at the core of health policies in order to avoid physical and emotional breakdowns which could lead to the rupture of the relational balance on which home care is based.

On the path together: Experiences of partners of people with multiple sclerosis of the impact of lifestyle modification on their relationship

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a major impact on the relationship of couples living with the illness. Although some positives of dealing with MS as a couple have been identified, MS has been associated with higher rates of relationship breakdown and worse Quality of Life (QOL) for both people in the relationship, especially if the person with MS experiences a decline in mental or physical health or develops disability. Modification of lifestyle-related risk factors has been associated with improved outcomes for people with MS, including physical and mental health-related QOL, and these improved outcomes may lead to improved experiences for their partners. We aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of the partners of people with MS, when the people with MS had undertaken an intensive residential workshop regarding healthy lifestyle, to understand the impact of MS and lifestyle modification on these partners' experiences of their relationship. Within the framework of Heidegger's interpretive phenomenology, semi-structured interviews were thematically analysed. Participants were in a spousal relationship with people with MS who had attended an intensive residential workshop regarding modification of lifestyle-related risk factors between 2002 and 2016. Participants lived in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Europe. Three major themes were identified relating to the couple's relationships: providing support, remaining connected and togetherness. Aspects of these themes, not commonly previously reported, included the personal and relationship benefits experienced from providing support with lifestyle modification, improved communication, and the resultant greater sense of closeness. These experiences of partners of people with MS improve our understanding of both the complexities of living with MS and adopting lifestyle modification, and suggest some potential benefits to relationships.

The partner's perspective of the impact of pituitary disease: Looking beyond the patient

People with pituitary disease report impairments in quality of life. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of the pituitary condition on the lives of partners. Four focus groups of partners of people with pituitary disease (Cushing’s disease, non-functioning adenoma, acromegaly, prolactinoma) were conducted. Partners mentioned worries related to the pituitary disease and negative beliefs about medication, coping challenges, relationship issues, social issues and unmet needs regarding care. This study emphasizes the importance of not only paying attention to psychosocial well-being of people with pituitary disease but also to their partners.

The Presence of Symptoms With Comorbid Conditions in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience symptoms that impact comorbid conditions and quality of life (QOL). There is some evidence that symptom severity may vary in certain common health conditions in this population. We aimed to examine symptom severity in light of comorbid conditions commonly seen in individuals with MS (N = 339). Using a cross-sectional Internet survey, we found there was a significant increase in symptom severity of common symptoms of fatigue, imbalance, and weakness, specifically with presence or absence of certain comorbid conditions (depression, arthritis, migraine headaches, coronary artery disease [CAD]). These findings endorse the presence of more severe symptoms with certain comorbid conditions compared with individuals with MS who do not report having comorbid conditions. The findings support the importance of symptom management in individuals with MS who also have comorbid conditions.